Means for decorating cups, bowls, and similar articles



July 31, 1956 w. E. COPE 2,756,671

MEANS FOR DECORATING CUPS, BOWLS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Aug. 13, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l V INVENTOR I60 154 141 m; D E, AL lfillzam L? 6'0 150/ 174 2127 46- BY 4 TIJRNE Y July 1, 1956 w. E. COPE 2,756,671

MEANS FOR DECORATING CUPS, BOWLS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Aug. 13, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

William E [0146 BY HTTOR/VEY July 31, W. E. COPE MEANS FOR DECORATING CUPS, BOWLS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Aug. 13, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent MEANS FOR DECORATING CUPS, BOWLS, AND.

' SIMILAR ARTICLES William E. Cope, Sebring, Ohio, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to Buffalo Pottery, Inc, Buffalo, N. Y.,'a corporation of New York, and onehalf to Royal China, Inc., Sebring, Ohio, a corporationofOhio vv s Ar s? 13, .5 eria NP- 95 9 8 Claims. (Cl. 101-39) ble decorated ware. A number of devices have been developed for applying decorations mechanically, but many of them have been objectionable for some reason or other; some such previous devices have not turned out decorated ware at sufficiently high rates of speed; other devices have been too complicated and expensive to ever go into commercial use, and still others have been objectionable in that they did not form clearly defined designs on the surface of the ware. The present invention aims to overcome the above and other difficulties by providing a new and improved machine, of relatively simple construction and operation, which is adapted to form clearly defined impressions on the exterior surface of curved articles at relatively high rates of speed. A

object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved machine for applying designs or decorations to ware.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved machine for rapidly decorating curved 'surfaces of articles, for example cups.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ma.- chine of the class described embodying new andimproved means for applying printing media to a decorating stamp. Another object of the present invention is" to provide new and improved means for presenting the surface of an article to a decorating stamp and obtaining relative movement between the article and stamp. Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for moving'the surfac' of an article to be decorated along a decorating stampwhile in contact therewith. Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for rotating an'article to be decorated while the article is in contact with the surface of a decorating stamp. i

' Another object of the invention is to provide a machine embodying new and improved means for moving anarticle into and out of contact with a decorating stamp. Stillanother object of the invention is to'provide'new and improved means for regulating the pressure between a decorating stamp and a media-applying roller. 'Still another object of the invention is'to provide improved means for regulating the decorating pressure between the surface of a decorating stamp" andanarticle that is to be decorated. A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for regulating the angular relaera "ice

2 tionship between a decorating stamp and an article holder.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodi rnent about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended'claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosenfor purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1' is a plan view illustrating the upper portion of a preferred embodiment of the machine;

Fig.' 2 is a front elevational view of the present machine;

" Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine illustrated in Figs; "1 and 2, with portions broken away to more clearly'bring out structure thereof;

Figs-34- and 5 show cam constructions which may be usedat portions of the machine; and

' Fig ."-6 isa "schematic wiring diagram which may be used with thepresentmachine.

' Described generally, the present machine comprises (Fig; 3) a framework 1' supporting a decoratingstarnp 2 adapted to be inked or to receive other media from composition-covered rollers 4. An article 7 to be decorated, shown for purposes of description as amp, is supported bya holder 10, the holder in turn being carried by reciprocable means 13' which serves to move the articleinto and out of contact with the decorating stamp 21" The rollers forapplying a decorating media tothe stamp-2 and the means 13 for moving the chuck 10 toward and away from the stamp are actuated from a main drive shaft 16' through suitable cams; When the holder 10 has moved a cup into contact with the stamp 2, the holder is moved lengthwise along the stamp bya drive motor 19 which turns a shaft 20 so as to roll a drive pinion 22 along a gear rack 23. As a cup or other article rolls along the length of the stamp 2, ink or other media is transferred from the stamp to the periphery of the cup to form a design thereon. After being rolled along the stamp 2, the holder 10 moves out'of contact with the stamp and returns to an initial positionjthe decorated cup may be removed from the holder immediately" after being decorated or upon return with the holder to the initial position.

For convenience of description the roller or rollers 4 which apply media to the stamp 2 will be referred to hereinafteras inking rollers, but it is to be understood that the rollers may apply any other suitable material to the stamp, as Well as ink. For example, the rollers may apply to the stamp a colored or uncolored adhesive material of such nature that when transferred to the cup i the form of a design the material'is adapted to" hold a powder coloring material.

Also, for convenience of description, the article to be decorated is shown and will be generally referred to as a cup, although it will be clear that the machine is equally useful for applying decorations to any object, forexample, bowls, pitchers, bottles, tumblers, etc.

The present machine and its operation will now be described in detail.'

As shown, the present machine comprises a framework with spaced legs 25 supporting adjacent their upper ends spaced side members 26, to which is secured an inking plate 23 and support member 29 on which is operatively supported the stamp holder member 31. The stamp holder member 3i may carry a filler block 32, against the upper surface of which rests a stamp-carryingblock 2a. The stamp-carrying block 2a may'be held firmly 3 down against the upper edge of the filler block 32 by stamp locking screws 34.

The length of the stamp 2 is preferable such as to apply a decoration to the outer periphery of the cup 7 from a location adjacent one side of its handle 7a to a location adjacent the opposite side of the handle. When the cup and its supporting holder are moved toward the stamp, by means to be later described in detail, the handle 7a may project past one end of the stamp 2 and at the termination of rotation of the cup along the stamp 2 the handle will normally project past the opposite or left (Fig. 2) end of the stamp.

The main drive shaft 16 of the machine is supported in suitable bearings 15 adjacent the upper ends of spaced supporting legs 37 and carries cams at appropriate locations along its length for moving the inking rollers 4 along the inking plate 28 and across stamp 2, as well as for reciprocating the article holder so as to move it toward and away from the elongated stamp 2. The drive shaft 16 may be rotated by electric motor 11 through intermediation of speed reducer 12, sprocket 14, chain 17, and sprocket 18 secured to the drive shaft 16.

The inking rollers 4 are moved up and down over the inking plate 28 and transversely across stamp 2 by the main drive shaft 16, through the intermediation of spaced earns 40, cam rollers 41 secured to and projecting from roller arms 42 which carry the rollers 4, roller rods 44, and saddles 46 which are rotatably secured to the roller rods 44.

As the main drive shaft 16 rotates and turns the cams 40, the cams raise and lower the rollers 41 which project out from the sides of the roller carrying arms 42. These latter arms are rotatably secured adjacent their rear ends to a shaft or shafts 47 attached to the legs 25. As the roller arms are elevated, the inking rollers 4 roll over the inking plate 28 to acquire a substantially uniform coating of ink or other printing media, and this printing media is transferred to the stamp as the rollers pass over its facing surface.

The rollers are normally held firmly against the inking plate 28 and adjacent guiding surfaces of the spaced support members 26 by springs 49, shown extending around the roller rods 44 and bearing at one end against a fixed portion 50 of the roller arms 42 and at their other ends aaginst collars 52 secured to the roller rods 44.

Ink or other suitable media may be applied to the inking rollers 44 by any suitable standard fountain or supply device, indicated generally by the reference character 54 (Fig. 3). For clarity of illustration the fountain is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The inking rollers 4 travel transversely to and fro across the stamp rather than longitudinally along it. This is highly desirable as it facilitates application of substantially uniform thickness of ink or other printing media to the stamp. If the rollers traveled from end to end of the stamp there would be a tendency for some portions of the stamp to receive a greater quantity of the printing media than other portions. However, in travelling transversely to and fro across the relatively narrow stamp, the entire stamp receives a substantially uniform and evenly distributed coating of inking media, so that a similar coating is applied to the surface of a cup or other article which is rolled along the stamp.

For optimum results it is preferable to provide means for regulating the pressure between the inking rollers and. the decorating stamp 2. This is important as the pres-- sure between the rollers and stamp affects the amount of printing media transferred from the rollers to the stamp. In the present machine the most desirable pressure is obtained by shifting the position of the stamp with respect to the roller 4. The stamp 2 may be adjusted toward and away from the movement path of the rollers 4 by an adjusting handwheel 54, through the intermediation of shaft 55, sprocket 56, chain 57, sprockets 58, threaded shafts 59 each secured adjacent one end thereof to a sprocket 58 and adjacent the opposite end thereof to the stamp holder 31, and nuts 61 carried by the support member 29. When the handwheel 54 is rotated the threaded shafts 59 are rotated in their nuts 61 and the stamp holder member 31 is moved toward or away from the movement path of the rollers 4, to thus regulate the distance that the outer surface of the stamp 2 projects beyond the movement path of the inking rollers, and hence regulate the pressure between rollers and stamp.

As previously mentioned, the article holder or chuck" 10 is movable toward and away from the stamp 2 so as to place a cup into and out of contact with the stamp. In the preferred embodiment this movement is obtained by carrying the holder 10 by a reciprocable platform 67; when the platform is moved in one direction, the holder and cup are moved away from the stamp, and when the platform is moved in an opposite direction the holder and article are moved toward and into contact with the stamp.

Reciprocation of the platform 67 is achieved by the main drive shaft 16 through the intermediation of spaced cams 68 on shaft 16, which raise cam rollers 70 and arms 71 that are fixedly secured to a cross shaft 73, the cross shaft 73 being rotatably carried adjacent its opposite ends on the spaced support members 26. When the arms 71 are elevated (rotated in clockwise direction, Fig. 3) they turn the cross shaft 73 and swing an arm 76 fixed to the cross shaft 73. The arm 76 is rotatably connected with a link member 77 and the link member is in turn rotatably connected with an extension 79 of an adjusting nut 80. The adjusting nut is threadedly connected with an adjusting screw 81 and this screw is in turn secured to a boss or projection 82 connected with the reciprocable platform 67. As a result clockwise movement of the arm 76 moves the platform 67 toward the right (Fig. 3) and moves the holder and article thereon toward and into contact with the stamp 2.

Movement of the platform 67 in an opposite direction, to move the holder and article away from the stamp 2, is obtained by a return cam 86 (Fig. 2) which urges its cam follower roller 87 and arm 88 in counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3); the arm 88 is fixedly secured to the cross shaft 73 and hence swings the arm 76 toward the left, to move the platform 67, holder and article away from the stamp.

During to and fro movement the platform is guided by rails 92 which project downwardly from the platform into guide channels 93 secured to upper portions of the machine framework.

Printing pressure between the cup 7 and stamp 2 may be regulated by suitably setting the adjusting screw 81 which connects the boss 82 and the platform 67 with the arm 76. When the adjusting screw is rotated in one direction it increases the space between the platform boss 82 and the adjusting nut 80, so that when the platform 67 is moved to the right the cup is pressed against the stamp 2 with a lesser force. When the adjusting screw 81 is rotated so as to position the boss and adjusting nut closer together the platform 67 and holder 10 carried thereby are moved toward the stamp 2, so that upon movement of the platform to the right the article is pressed against the stamp with greater force. In this manner the printing pressure for best results may be readily obtained. When a desired setting of the adjusting screw- 81 has been made, the platform 67 may be locked in position by tightening adjusting bolts 83 which project through slots 84 of the reciprocable platform and are threaded at their lower ends into the cross bar which connects with the locking nut extension 79.

For best results it is desirable that means be provided for changing the angle of the holder 10, in order to obtain the best printing relationship between the exterior of an article and the printing surface of the stamp 2,. Thisisparticularly desirable inorder to .applysharply de d s n to he per phery of articl wh c may hav s pin r t er tha cyl nd ical xterior side wallshe Pr se t m h n inc ude re ativ ly si ple me n or adj st n he ausu arity of the h d r- As shown, the holder 10 is supported by a spindle 98 which extends through and is guided by bearings supported by spaced spindle brackets 99. The spindle brackets are in turn secured to a reciprocable carriage member 100 which has upper and lower edge portions 101 fitting into track members 102. The upper and lower track members 102 are secured adjacent their opposite end portions to spaced tilting brackets 105 and these tilting brackets are in turn secured to stub shafts 106. The stub shafts project through additional spaced bracket members 108 secured to oppositely disposed extensions 109 of the reciprocable platform 67. By this construction the tilting brackets 105 may be rotated about the axes of stub shafts 106 so as to correspondingly turn the tracks 102, carriage member 100, spindle brackets 99, spindle 98 and holder 1 'to any suitable position of angularity. When adjusted to desired position, set screws 110 may be tightened against the stub shafts 106 to retain the position. While any suitable holder may be utilized for retaining a cup daring design application, that shownin Fig. 3 is preferred due to its simplicity of construction, which provides ready application and removal'of cups. The latter feature is highly desirable as it contributes to increased production rates. A steel holder 112, secured by adjustable lock nut 113 to spindle 98, carries at its lower part a fiber chum 114 having an exterior sulrface turned to fit an interior portion of an article to heretai'nerl. A' rubber gasket 115 resting against a flange of holder member 112 providcs a rim seat for articles. A passageway 116 through the churn 114, holder .112, di nieln bu .113 a n le fi eo muniate wi h a conduit 117 that leads to means (not shown) for withdrawing ,air from the passageway 116.' Any suitable revolving joint connection .111 may be provided between the jcgnduit 137 and rotatable spindle 98. Adjustment nut 113 provides for shifting the vertical position of the article holder so asto decorate'the cup at de'sijredheight o itssi wal .When a cup is placed over the chum 114 and air is drawn from pa s y 1. 6 h P ti l um pulls he cup rmly o h ha a d ag ns u b gaske 1 i I [Withdrawal of air from the conduit 117, to subject the nterio o a cup the h ld v o p rt a acu ma thereby retain it on the holder, is obtained by connecting the conduit 117 with suction means such as ,a vacuum pump (not shown) at appropriate intervals. As shown, this is achieved by a cam 121 which at intervals actuates a switch122 connected with a solenoid valve 124. .When the solenoid valve 12.4 opens the conduit 117 air is W hdrawn m t een T rn P efe ably perates the electric switch 122 to open the valve 124 when theholder 10 is at the illustrated outward righthand position, so that a cup may be applied and retained at that position. The switch is preferably operated to close the valve 124 and conduit 1117 after the cuphas moved into contact with the decorating stamp and has rolled alonglit to a position adjacent the left hand of the stamp, at which time an operator may remove the decorated cup The article holder thereafter travels back to the right end of the machine and the operator may apply a cup to the holder 1.0. As mentioned the general description, the motor 19 rotates the shaft it) sees to correspondingly rotate the pinion gear 22 alongthe gear rack .23, and thus move the article holder 10 longitudinally of the stamp ,2. During a po t n o t i l n udina ov m n t e holder it} will be at an inner position in which an a ti ie 7 sb ld. ga ns th t mp- During th longi d n n evetner lon th s mp the a tic e rot tes and pic s up a ou d ts pe ph ry n mpressi n" of the si n s amp, which w of cou e, hav b en previously inked by the rollers 4.

The motor 19 turns the shaft 20 through a suitable speed reducer 21. In order to transmit rotation to the pinion gear 22 at all positions thereof along the gear rack '23, the motor connects with the pinion through universal joints 119 and and the shaft comprises an outer sleeve portion 20a into which projects a plungerlike portion 2%, the sleeve 20a and plunger portion 20b being preferably provided with complementary splines or some 'key and keyway construction to hold them against relative rotation. This construction provides for longitudinal movement of the shaft portions along each other during swinging of the shaft 20 through an angle from a position adjacent one end of the gear rack '23 to an opposite end portion thereof; The gear rack 23 is secured to the same tilting brackets 105 which "carry the trackways 102 and carriage 100, and hence the gear rack and gear tilt with the tilting brackets.

The motor 19) isreversible' to provide for swinging the shaft 20' to and fro, and is supported on a base" 123 attached to and movable with the reciprocable platform '67. i

A shaft 125 of the driving pinion 22 projects into a bearing carried by the pinion shaft housing 126" and' this housing'is fixedly secured'to the carriage 100 that is reciprocabl'e along the upper and lower trackways "102. Thus rotation of the motor 19 moves the carriage' along the trackways 102 through the'intermediation' of "universal'joint 119 shaft 20, universal joint 120,""pinion gear 22, pinion shaft 125 and pinion shaft housing 126. The upper and lower brackets 99 which'carr'y'the holder spindle 98 are'secure'd to the carriage 100 and "hence move along the trackways 102 upon rotation of the drive For best results it is preferred to rotate the article holder "10 during movement of the carriage '100'along the tracks '102,ratherthan' torotate the" holder" merely by frictional' 'contact of an "article against'the surface of the stamp 2. As shown, the holder is rotated by friction pinion gear rack 129 and friction pinion gear 130 through the intermlediation 'of friction pinion shaft 131, friction pinion shaft housing132 fixedly secured to 'carriag 100, friction wheel 134, and friction plate 135 se- 'cured'to spindle shaft 98a; As the carriage 100moves along the" tracks 102, in response to rotation of pinion gear 22' along its' rack 23, 'thefriction pinion 1301s 'rotated due to its engage'mentwith the fixed friction pinionrack 129. The friction pinion rack 129 is secured adjacent its opposite ends to the tilting'brackets 105 and is hence positionable" with them to any desired angle. When the motor 19 rotates in one direction it moves the drive'pinion "22, carriage 100 and holder 10 toward the 'left'(Figs. l and 2). When r'otatedin an opposite direction it rotates the drive pinion 22 in an opposite direction and moves the carriage and holder toward'an initial position adjacent the right end of the machine, such as is indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 2. Themetor 19 is started'at appropriate instants'by one of a pair of starting switches1'38 or 139 (Fig; 3), which are operated by a cam 141 secured to the main" driveshaft 16. The starting switch 133 starts the motor when the driving'pinion'22 and"carr iage 100' with article holder 10 are located at an initial position adjacent'the'right side of the machine. The motor continues to run and moves the carriage 100 and holder 10 toward the left end of the elongated stamp 2 until such time asa portion of the carriage 102 engages a stop switch 142 secured to a portion of the guide track 102 by'a suitable bracket 143. The switch 142 stops the'motor 19 with the aid of plugging switch144, that is driven by the motor 19 throughisprockets 146 and drive chain 147.""

Any suitable commercially available plugging switch may be utilized, preferably one of the zero speed variety. With such a switch the power which operates the driving motor 19 is cut off and power is immediately and momentarily applied tending to drive the motor in a reverse direction, this reverse power opposing forward coasting of the driving motor. As referred to above, plugging switches are well known and commercially available, a satisfactory type being that produced and sold by the Allen-Bradley Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin under the name Bulletin 808 Zero Speed Switch.

During movement of the carriage 100 from right to left the holder 10 has rotated the cup along the length of the stamp 2 to form on the cup an impression of the stamp.

As the main drive shaft 16 continues to revolve, cam 141 releases the starting switch 138 and actuates the other starting switch 139, thus setting the motor 19 into operation so as to move the carriage 100 and holder 10 back to its initial starting point, where the motor is stopped by a portion of the carriage 190 engaging a second stop switch 150 (shown supported on trackway 102 by a bracket 151) with the aid of plugging switch 144.

Prior to movement of the carriage and holder 10 from its initial position to a secondary position adjacent the left of the machine, the holder will have been moved in toward the stamp 2 by the cams 68 on the main drive shaft swinging the connecting arm 76 clockwise and shifting the platform 67 to an inward position.

Adjacent the secondary position at the left of the machine the cam 86 on the main drive shaft 16 moves the connecting arm 76 counterclockwise so as to shift the platform 67 and holder 10 carried thereby to an outer position away from the stamp 2. The holder 10 thus travels around a closed path, so as to hold an article in contact with the stamp during movement from an initial to a secondary position and to hold the article away from the stamp during return from the secondary to initial position.

The cams 68, 86, 121 and 141 are of generally similar construction and may be built up by adjustably attaching a plate member 148 of suitable profile to a shaftattaching collar member 149, along the lines of the cam shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Each time the holder 10 returns to its initial position a fresh cup may be slipped onto the chum 114.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a simplified schematic wiring arrangement which may be used with the present machine. Any suitable reversing starter 155, for example such as sold commercially by the Allen-Bradley Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, may be connected by leads within cable 156 with the alternating current driving motor 19 (Figs. 1 and 3).

When the switch 138 (Figs. 3 and 6) is closed by the cam 141 on main drive shaft 16, current from lead 158, which may be connected with the power line to motor 19, passes from lead 158 through lead 160, normally closed switch 161, lead 162, forward relay 164, lead 165, across closed switch 138, through normally closed limit switch 142 (Figs. 1 and 6) to lead 167 which may connect with the power line. Energizing forward relay 164 closes switch 170 and current passes from the lead 158 through the lead 171 to the starter box 155 to run the motor 19 in one direction. In addition to closing switch 170, relay 164 also opens normally closed switch 172 and current cannot reach reverse relay 178 when this condition exists.

In this condition the motor 19 rotates shaft 20 and movesthe carriage 100. toward the left until it contacts normally closed. limitswitch 142 and opens it, thereby causing de-energization .of forward relay 164, so that switch 170 opens and switch 172 closes.

With switch 142 open, current to the motor 170 through line 171 is interrupted. At this time the plugging switch 144 (Figs. 1 and 6) is momentarily closed with terminal .114 andcurrent applied to motor 19 to quickly stop it and prevent coasting. The plugging switch closes in this condition only momentarily and then opens. In this momentary condition current passes through leads 158, 160, 175, normally closed switch 172, lead 177, reverse relay 178, lead 180, terminal 174, plugging switch member 144, and lead 182 to the line 167 so as to apply momentary halting current impulse to motor 19.

The main drive shaft 16 continues to rotate and its cam 141 closes the normally open switch 139. In this condition current passes to lead 167 for the motor 19, through leads 158, 160, 175, switch 172, lead 177, reverse relay 178, lead 180, switch 139 (now closed by cam 141) and normally closed switch 150. Current flows to reversing starter 155 and motor 19 through lead 185, switch 187 (closed by energization of reverse relay 178) and lead 188; during current flow to the motor along this path the motor is moving the article holder 10 back to initial position adjacent the right end of the stamp 2. Normally closed switch 161 has been opened by reverse relay 17 8 so that the current does not flow through the forward relay 164, but is obliged to flow through the normally closed switch 172.

At the end of desired movement of the holder 10 along the stamp, a projection to the carriage comes into contact with limit switch and opens it. This de-energizes reverse relay 178, so that switches 187 and 161 return to their illustrated positions, and also interrupts current to the motor 19. Current then flows momentarily through plugging contact switch member 144 that is now in contact with terminal 184 and a momentary current impulse is applied to the motor 19 to quickly stop it.

The operation of the machine has been described in detail in connection with its constructional features and therefore an extended description at this point is believed unnecessary. In brief, the operator places a cup on the holder 10 while the latter is in an initial outward right hand position. As the main drive shaft 16 rotates, by drive motor 11, vacuum switch 122 is operated and vacuum tends to retain the cup firmly on the holder 10. Cams 68 and arms 76 move the platform 67 rearwardly so as to move the article holder 10 toward the stamp 2 and press the cup against the right hand portion of the stamp 2. Switch 13-8 is operated by the earn 141 and starts the drive motor 19. The drive motor rotates the shaft 20 and moves the carriage 100, together with the article holder 10, along the stamp 2 until a portion of the travelling mechanism engages electric switch 142 adjacent the left end of the stamp 2. This switch stops the drive motor 19 with the aid of plugging switch 144. During movement from right to left of the stamp 2, the cup has been rotated along the face of the stamp and received the required decoration, the stamp having been previously inked by the inking rollers 4 which move transversely across it to apply printing media.

As drive shaft 16 continues to revolve, cam 86 swings the return arm 88 and rotates the cross shaft 73 so as to return the platform 67 to its outward position such as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Vacuum applied through conduit 117 is cut off by the cam 121 and electric switch 122 and hence the decorated cup may be readily removed by the operator.

Switch 139 is then operated by the cam 141 and power is supplied to rotate the drive motor 19 in an opposite direction, which moves the carriage 100 with article holder 10 back toward its initial starting point at the right of the machine, where it is stopped by a portion of the carriage coming into contact with electric switch 150 so as to stop the motor with the aid of the plugging switch 144.

While the carriage 100 is away from the stamp 2 and is moving back toward its initial starting point, cams 40 on the main drive shaft 16 raise the inking rollers 4 up across the inking plate 28 and stamp 2 so as to re-ink it. The rollers reach their lowered position adjacent the fountain at about the time the cycle commences to repeat.

-- Itwi-ll be seen that the present invention provides new and improved apparatus for rapidly applying decorations to exterior surfaces of articles such as cups, bowls, glasses, etc. The decorating stamp is coated subtantially uniformly with printing media by having the inking rollers travel transversely to and fro across the face of the elongated inking stamp. The article to be decorated is moved into contact with and rolled, while being rotated through a driving connection, along the length of the stamp. After being decorated, the article holder moves away from the stamp and a partial vacuum which pulled the article onto its holder is automatically released so that an operator may remove it. When the article holder reaches an initial position it is ready to receive a fresh article.

The pressure between inking rollers and stamp may be readily adjusted to apply an optimum layer of printing media to the stamp, the pressure between an article and the stamp during decoration maybe readily adjusted, and the relative'angularities of the stamp and exterior surface of an article to be decorated may be easily adjusted for optimum mating contact between the exterior of the article and the stamp.

As the cup is in full pressure against the face of the stamp before it commences to roll along the stamp face, there is eliminated the tendency to smear which might result due to moving the cup or stamp independently of each other before they made actual contact with each other. The cup is driven at substantially uniform rate across the length of the stamp and hence there is minimum or no opportlunity for objectionable smearing.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a decorating device of the class described, the combination of a guide member, a platform supported by and reciprocable along said guide member, a trackway on said platform extending generally perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said platform, carrier means reciprocable along said trackway, an article holder mounted on said carrier means, and means for reciprocating said platform along the guide member, a reversible electric motor fixedly mounted on said platform and operatively connected to said carrier means to move it reciprocally of said trackway and said electric motor cooperating with said platform reciprocating means to move the article holder through a rectangular path relative to said guide member.

2. Apparatus for printing articles comprising elongated stamping means, a rotatable article holder, a reciprocating carrier supporting said article holder for movement in a first path toward and away from the plane of said stamping means, drive means to reciprocate said carrier in said first path, means supported by the carrier for moving the article holder through another path and along the stamping means when the article holder is in proximity to the plane of the stamping means to place an article in rolling contact with the stamp, and rotating means including a friction drive for rotating said holder during its movement through said other path whereby an article on said holder will be rotated by both said friction drive and by its rolling contact with said stamp, the speed of said rotation being governed by the frictional contact of the article with said stamping means.

3. A decorating device for shaped articles of substantially circular cross section comprising a framework, a stamp holder on said framework, an article holder having a gripping means adjacent to one end, a carrier rotatably supporting the other end of said article holder and movably mounted on said framework for motion along a. first path generally perpendicular to and along a second path parallel to said stamp holder, reciprocating means to saidcarrieralpngsaid second path and a reversible electric motor operatively .connectedto said gear means to rive it to move said carrier in one direction along said second path when said article holder .is adjacent ,toxsaid stamp holder and in the opposite direction along said second path when the article holder is remote from said stamp holder.

.4. A decorating .device for bowl-like articles comprising a framework, an elongated stamp holder on said framework, an article holder having a gripping means at one end to engage the inner surfaces of a bowlalike article and to retain it onthe article holder with its outer surfaces exposed, a carrier rotatably supporting the'opposite end of said article holder and movably mounted on said framework for motion along a first path generally perpendicular to and along a second .pathparalll to said stamp holder, reciprocating means to move said carrier -along,.said first path, gear means-to move said carrier along said second path, a reversible electric motor operatively connected to said gear means to drive it to move said carrier in one direction along said second path when said article holder is adjacent to said stamp holder and in the opposite direction when the article holder is remote from said stamp holder and means supported by the carrier for rotating the article holder during movement of the carrier along the second path. A

5. A decorating device for shaped articles of substantially circular cross section comprising a framework, a stamp holder on said framework, a rotatable article holder having a gripping means at one end for gripping an article, a carrier rotatably supporting said article holder, a mounting for said carrier on said framework providing for motion of said carrier along a first path generally perpendicular to and along a second path generally parallel to said stamp holder, means including an oscillatable arm connected with the carrier and a rotatable cam for swinging said arm to move the carrier along said first path, gear means to move said carrier along said second'path, and a reversible electric motor on said carrier mounting operatively connected to said gear means by a telescoping shaft having universal joints to drive said gear means to move said carrier in one direction along said second path when said article holder is adjacent to said stamp holder and in the opposite direction when said article holder is remote from said stamp holder.

6. A decorating device for shaped articles of substantially circular cross section comprising a frame, an elongated stamp holder on said frame, a rotatable article holder having an article gripping means at one end, a carrier rotatably supporting said article holder, a mounting for said carrier on said frame providing for motion of said carrier along a first path generally perpendicular to and along a second path generally parallel to said stamp holder, a rotatable drive shaft in said frame having cam means mounted thereon, means operatively connecting said mounting with said cam means to intermittently move said carrier along said first path, gear means to move said carrier along said second path and a reversible electric motor on said mounting to drive said gear means to move said carrier in one direction along said second path when said article holder is adjacent to said stamp holder and in the opposite direction when said article holder is remote from said stamp holder.

7. A decorating device for shaped articles of substantially circular cross section comprising a frame, an elongated stamp holder on said frame, a rotatable article holder having an article gripping means at one end, a carrier rotatably supporting the other end of said article holder, a mounting for said carrier on said frame providing for motion of said carrier along a first path generally perpendicular to and along a second path generally parallel to said stamp holder, a rotatable drive shaft in said frame generally parallel to said stamp holder, cam means on said drive shaft, means operatively connecting move said carrier along said first path, gear means to move said mounting. and said cam means to intermittently move said carrier toward and away from said stamp holder along said first path and means to move saidcarrier in one direction along said second path when said article holder has been moved along said first path to a position adjacent said stamp holder and in the opposite direction when said article holder has been moved to a position remote from said stamp holder.

8. In a decorating device of the class described, the combination of a guide member, a platform supported by and reciprocable along said guide member, a trackway on said platform extending generally perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said platform, carrier means reciprocable along said trackway, an article holder mounted on said carrier means, and means for reciprocating said platform along the guide member, reversible drive means fixedly mounted on said platform and operatively connected to said carrier means to move its reciprocally of said trackway and said drive means cooperating with said platform reciprocating means to move the article holder through a rectangular path relative to said guide member. 1

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